Window guide strip construction



April 21, 1953 c. J. MCKzNNEY WINDOW GUIDE STRIP CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed Sept. 8, 1950 H INVENTOR far/05d Mc/f/'nnej/ 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Zic April 21, 1953 C, J. MCK|NNEY WINDOW GUIDE STRIP CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 8, 1950 Patented Apr. 21, 1953 2,635,915 WINDOW GUIDE STRIP CONSTRUCTION Carlos J. McKinney, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 8, 1950, Serial No. 183.779

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a flexible strip construction for window channels and guide strips for use in automobile Windows and the like. It particularly relates to a strip which is bendable to various window frame shapes and at the same time is strong and rigid.

Window channels and guide strips are used in the window frames of automobile bodies to guide and hold the window glass which slides -up and down therein. They are generally formed from sheet metal covered with a suitable facing fabric or material. They must be readily bendable to the shape of the window frame to Which they are applied and at the same time be strong once formed. Various channel constructions have been developed to solve` this problem, but in general the channels are either too Weak to provid-e the needed guide and support or are too rigid and crimp and wrinkle when bent for conformation with the Window frame.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a strong and durable window channel and window strip construction capa-ble of bending as necessary Without distortion.

This is accomplished by forming regularly spaced openings or holes in the side Walls of the channel and in the body of the window strip and bowing the connecting portions between them inwardly or outwardly so that the yconnecting portions absorb compressive forces and the channel or strip is easily bent around contours.

Another object of this invention is to provide continuous edges and eliminate the necessity of slitting the channel or strip walls to permit bending. The regularly spaced openings and bowed connecting portions of this invention give the desired eXi-bility while at the same time providing continuous edges.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical method of forming a bendable channel or strip of the type referred to.

With the above and other objects in view the invention may be said to comprise the weather or trim strip as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described, together with such variations and modifications thereof as Will be lapparent to one skilled in the art t which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the vaccompanying drawings forming a, part of this specifi-cation in which like numerals refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the channel of this invention with the outer fabric covering removed from part o1 the channel to show the construction of the channel walls;

Fig.u 2 isan, enlarged `cross-sectional view` 2 taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1 to show the cross-- sectional construction of the channel;

Fig. 3 is a side View of a. channel uncovered by fabric and bent, for example, as for an au tomobile window frame;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bent channel of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5 5 in Fig. 3 showing the channel construction through the bowed-in straps and square openings;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken along: line 6 6 in Fig. 3, showing the channel con--I struction through the solid portion of the channel;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged bottom plan, sectional view taken or developed along line 1 1 of Fig.. 3 showing how the bowed-in straps are distort-- ed over the contour bend;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of a modification of the invention in which ythe side openings are circular;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9 9 in Fig. 8 through the circular openings to show the channel construction;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a Window guide strip embodying this invention With the cushion removed over the right hand bent portion to show how the bowed-in straps are distored;

Fig. 11 is a cross-section taken along line II-II in Fig. 10 to show the construction of the window guide strip; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the guide strip with the cushion removed to show the strips construction.

The window channel and window guide strip of this invention are characterized by a. body portion which has sets of regularly spaced openings with the connectingrstrap portions between the openings of each set partially bowed-in. 'Ihus when the channel or strip is bent, the bowed-in portions bend or distort further along the inside of the curve to absorb the compressive 4forces created by bending the strip.

The window channel of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1-10 has a body portion l formed or bent into channel shape from sheet metal strip, a fabric cover 2 over this body portion, metal beads 3 over the channel edges, and felt pads 4 along the inner faces of the channel to brace and cushion the Window glass.

The metal body portion or frame l is covered with an inexpensive durable fabric 2 which is specially made and readily available for this use..

The fabric is of one piece and is wrapped around the body portion Yand cemented or adhered to the body portion along the bottom at the joint 6 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Along the inside of the channel, felt strips or pads 4 are cemented or sewed to the fabric cover. These pads or cushioning means 4 guide and align the Window glass as it slides up and down in vthe runway. If desired, tufted fabricV may be substituted for the pads.

Over the open edges 'I of the body portionv are disposed hollow linear beads or trim portions 3 made of thin gauge sheet metal formed into C sectioned or bead-shaped linear strips. These beads or trim portions 3 are slidable along the edges of the channel so that they do not rufflev the fabric or otherwise interfere with bending of the channel. 'I'o hold these beads over the channel edges, triangular shaped lugs or ears 8 are punched out of theedge portions of the channelvbody. These lugs or retaining means- 3 extend alternately outwardA and inward from the body walls. The vertex of each triangle'i's pointed towardthe plane. of the body bottom so that the bead 3' can fitk over it and then cannot be removed. In thisv way the bead fits securely over the channel edge 'I and at the same time is slidable with it.`

, Onefof the principal features of this invention liesA in the construction of'V the channelv shaped or U-shaped body portion I. This body` portionn or `channel frame I is of a sheet. metal strip formedinto a channelr shape. Thebody portion walls 9 (Figs. l tof?) and. I4 (Figs. 8 and 9) are perforated Vor provided with regularly spaced.

openings. TheseY openings or perforations are rectangular ISv (Fig. 3) or round. I2 (Fig. 8)- in shape andv so fspacedthateach set of-openings' is disposed in a common. cross-sectional. plane perpendicular tothe `chan-nelistrip walls, such as plane 5--5 in Fig. 3,(which planes. are regularly spaced. The modification of Figs. 1 7 employs rectangular openings. IE); while the modification ofFigs..8,and.Qemploysriound openings I2. Oth-l er shapes, such as`- oval openings, arel equallyv serviceable and are-contemplated by this invention.

The-sets or groupssof openings-inone channel wall correspond toa similar-set or group in the opposite wall. Thus, the set of openings inter sected byfplanefe--.in the. inside or righthand or facingwall of the channel body'aligns withv the openings in the outside orV lefthand1 wall as shown in Fig-5. Likewise,;the. setof perforations intersectedV by plane S-Sin Fig. aintheinside wall aligns with a set in the opposite or outer wall.v In orderto'- so alignthe openingsA or perforations,the openingsare formed'in a flatmetal strip with a die or. tool and then the-strip is bent into channel form. The preferred constructionA is one in which theopenings in both walls corre-l spond and are aligned as shown in the drawings.

Ivhis avoids the undesirableY longitudinal twistv which results` whenV a channel is bent whichhas..

no correspondence' between the sets ofopenings in One Wall and thesetsof openingsinthe opposite Wall;

Inorder to" absorb compressive forces,y the- Ametal portions-or straps-"II- adjacent the 4peroraV l tions are dished' or bowed 'slightly inward asv shown.. The .dishf canlbe inward or outward, i. the importantpp'ointzbeing!that the strap be/slightlydistorted or bent: in fabrication sothatiwhenthe ,channel is bent vor shaped to= al contour these straps II'willfurtherdistort to absorb thercomf is in the cross-sectional plane to the body portion or in the plane perpendicular to said body portion walls in order to absorb and bend further with the compressive forces developed in bending the channel. This action is illustrated in the developed bottom plan view of a bent channel in Fig. 7. Here the strap or connecting portion I la vin the straight section of the channel retains its original bowed-in shape while the strap IIb at the bent section of the channel bows or buckles in further to absorb the compressive forces developed in the side wall by the bend.

The extent of the inward bend or bow of the metal straps II is revealed in Figs. '5 and 6 taken across a channel .as noted. These figures also show the relative size of the straps and the perforations or openings. This relation depends upon the thickness or gauge of the metal and the degree of bending contemplated.

The window guide strip of the present invention. illustrated in Figs. Iii-l2: features a body portion IS, a cushion II, beads I8 along bothed'ges of the guide strip, and stuing It between the cushion .and body portion of the guide strip.

The body portion or frame I6 is thin gauge strip metal characterized'by openings or holes 2Q evenly arranged in sets along the'lengthv thereof. These holes or perforations 2l! can be squared or round or of any convenient shape. They are arrangedY in evenly spaced sets each disposed ata right angle to theline or length ofthe strip, as shown. The connecting` portions or straps 2ladjacent and separating these holes are bent or bowed inward as in the window channel. These straps 2i can be bent or dished inward croutwardV as desired andl should be bent on an axis atv right angles to they line of the guide strip.

When the strip is formed around a curve, the

bowed-in straps` on the inner radial 1curve distort further as at strapsZ'Ib, and 2Ic While the'straps on the outer radial curve are unchanged or attened out. In this way the forces generated' in` the strip by bending are easily absorbed and the strip itself is still strong and durable. The strip alsoihasthe advantages of a, continuous edge and a simplev construction.

` Thecushioning means ortufted cushionV Iii-is heldy out in. position by the pad or stuffing Is whichisusually felt or sponge rubber and i'sheld' or clamped along the edges by the beads' IS. The hollow linear beads or trim portions I8y are inV turn held on by the lugs or ears 22. These lugs or retaining; meansV are triangular shapes punched from the edge portionsof the stripandi function` similarly to those along the window' channelY edges;

This guide strip embodies'feature's-concerned with the openings and dished' strap structures for saidlinear beads alongthe open edgesof said body' portion, said body portion having transversely a1igned2sets of spacedrperforations withY the. connecting portions adjacentthe perforations of each set being bowed in the cross-sectional plane of said guide strip.

2. A iiexible guide strip comprising a body portion, cushioning means on one side of said body portion, stuffing between said cushioning means and body portion, trim portions over the open edges of said body portion, and retaining means for said trim portions, said body portion having transversely aligned sets of spaced openings with the connecting portions adjacent the openings of each set being dished in the crosssectional plane of said guide strip.

3. A window runway strip comprising a frame of flat strip material with evenly spaced sets of holes therein aligned with the cross-sectional axis of said frame, a tufted cushion on one side thereof, hollow linear beads over the open edges of said frame, and lugs punched out along the edge portions of said frame to retain said hollow linear beads, said frame having the straps adjacent the holes of each set dshed on an axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said strip.

4. A flexible window channel comprising a channel-shaped body portion, a fabric covering the inside and outside of said body portion, cushioning means along the side walls and bottom of said channel, linear beads over the open edges of said body portion, and retaining means for said linear beads along the open edges of said body portion walls, said body portion having spaced transversely aligned sets of perforations in the side walls with the connecting portions adjacent the perforations of each set being bowed in the cross-sectional planes of said channel.

5. A fiexible window strip comprising a channel-shaped frame, a fabric covering the inside and outside of said frame, cushioning means along the inside walls and bottom of said frame, linear beads over the open edges of the walls of said frame, and retaining means for said linear beads along the open edges of said frame, said frame walls having formed therein sets of perforations in the cross-sectional plane of the frame with each set of perforations in one Wall aligned with a corresponding set of perforations in the opposite wall and with the connecting portions adjacent the perforations of each set being uniformly and regularly inwardly bent.

6. A iiexible window channel comprising a channel-shaped body portion, a fabric covering over the inside and outside of said body portion, cushioning means along the inside walls and bottom of said channel, ears formed from the body portion walls extending alternately inwardly and outwardly along the open edges of said body portion walls, and hollow linear beads iitted over the open edges and ears of said body portion walls and longitudinally slidable therewith, said body portion having spaced corresponding transversely aligned sets of openings in the walls thereof with the straps adjacent the openings of each set being inwardly bowed in the cross-sectional planes of said channel.

'7. The window channel of claim 3 in which the openings are rectangular.

3. A frame for a flexible window guide strip which is channel-shaped and has corresponding transversely aligned sets of perforations in the channel walls with the connecting portions adjacent the perforations of each set being uniformly inwardly bent.

9. A flexible window channel comprising a channel-shaped body portion, a fabric covering the inside and outside of said body portion, cushioning means along the side walls and bottom of said channel, linear beads over the open edges of said body portion, and retaining means for said linear beads along the open edges of said body portion walls, said body portion having spaced transversely aligned sets of perforations in the side walls with the connecting portions adjacent the perforations of each set being initially bowed from the plane of the side walls of the channel-shaped body portion.

l0. The window channel of claim 9 in. which the perforations in the sidewalls are rectangular.

l1. The window channel of claim 9 in which the perforations in the sidewalls are round.

CARLOS J. MCKINNEY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,867,313 Gaines July 12, 1932 2,299,595 Rydquist Oct. 20, 1942 2,428,006 Best Sept. 30, 1947 2,443,959 Merrill June 22, 1948 2,446,516 Bailey Aug. 11, 1948 

